Kazim complains of bureaucracy

Hosein was addressing regional corporation chairmen, aldermen, councillors and CEOs at Signature Hall, Chaguanas yesterday morning during a local government orientation seminar.

As the former mayor of San Fernando, Hosein said things worked much faster in his corporation than at the ministry and the change in pace sometimes leads to him making mistakes.

“It’s because I want things to happen and the ministry is too slow.

If I want to buy a staple, it has to go to the Ministry of Finance. Everything you want you have to go to the Ministry of Finance. I’m asking for a telephone since I come here because I didn’t take one when I was in San Fernando.

And up to now, four months, I can’t get my own telephone.” Hosein said he ended up buying a phone for himself.

His criticism of the ministry’s processes was lightly applauded by the audience before he went on to further criticise the system.

He said since his appointment, he has received over 300 letters from people all over the country asking for his help with things that should be dealt with at the level of the corporations.

“Something has to be wrong somewhere.” Speaking with reporters after the opening of the seminar, Hosein said changes to the system as campaigned for by the PNM during the last local government election were being reviewed at the Ministry of the Attorney General and should reach parliament in about six months.